[V8] Hot Cams

[Sean]

Hello all,

I have been following the hot cam topic for the past week or so.  I like 
most of you am really not to happy with the low performance numbers out 
of the PT/ABH motors.  I have done quite a bit of research on cams for 
these.  There is a local (to me in MN) cam grind that is a former elgin 
cam, cam guru.  I have been talking to him about the possibility of 
having cams reground.  He needs to see a cam before he can tell me what 
is needed.  I saw that most of you are only in search of mild up grades, 
I on the other hand am looking to get into the 268 degree range with my 
cams.  I do know that Catcams makes cams for our motors and they are not 
cast iron blanks, but gun drilled steel billet cams with independently 
aadjustable chain gears.  Last I spoke with the Canadian/US catcam 
distributor they cam to around 1900 to 2200 for the set of 4 in up to a 
267/267 duration with 11.5/11.5mm lift intake/exhaust.  These cams would 
be a very large improvement over the roughly 9.6mm of lift the stock 
cams offer.  The PT heads are in all respect directly copied from the VW 
16v 2L motor.  The later ABH, though I haven't actually seen a ABH, is 
just slightly different.  I own a set of Euro S8 32v heads and they have 
really quite large cams with totally different valves and lifters then 
the early V8 motors.  I saw the price of the euro regrind and started 
laughing at the mount.  I could call the boys at cat and have cams from 
them in 2 weeks that would be lighter (not sure how much) and more then 
likely out preform them.

I work on cylinder heads at my part time job (college student) so I have 
seen quite a few Audi heads, and many other VAG heads.  the PT/ABH/ABZ 
cams seem to be mild, by even VW standards.  They are really lacking in 
the lift department and in the valve design department as well.  I 
wouldn't be surprised of a set of .5mm over sized valves yield a 10% 
increase in power on just stock cams.  I hope to find out what can be 
made to work on a flow bench (being I have access to one) for some real 
numbers.  that is my two cents to this on going topic hope it helped.

Sean
91 Cq V8 6-speed conversion in progress. (stalled till garage found)